Cubs are in trouble if they head into the season without addressing this hole

Michael Busch was a fringe All-Star-caliber first baseman for the Chicago Cubs in 2024. That's not too shabby considering he learned the position defensively on the fly and put up strong offensive numbers, as well (119 wRC+ in 567 plate appearances) in his first full big-league season.

While there have been regular rumors connecting the Cubs to longtime New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso this winter, that potential match has always felt forced given Busch's emergence as a Gold Glove-caliber first baseman who can do damage with the stick and Seiya Suzuki's new role as the team's full-time designated hitter in 2025.

Busch is the guy at first - not just in the sense that the job belongs to him, no questions asked. He's literally the only first baseman on the 40-man roster - which begs the question: what happens if he gets hurt and/or misses significant time?

Chicago brought in veteran utlityman Jon Berti on a one-year deal and he worked with former Cub Anthony Rizzo in the Bronx last year to start learning the position, which is fine and all, until you remember that he got his first MLB reps at first base last fall during the ALDS out of sheer desperation on the part of the Yankees.

That's not exactly the type of experience I'd like to turn to were the Cubs to lose Busch for months on end. And if you think there's any sort of impactful or even reliable depth waiting in the wings at Iowa, I have sad news for you. Matt Mervis is gone, traded to Miami this winter, and while some have speculated Moises Ballesteros could, conceivably, move to first, that's an unknown at this point.

There's room on this team for someone like Justin Turner, a right-handed compliment to Busch at first who could step in at third or DH if needed. Adding someone like that, despite his age, would make me feel a whole lot better about the contingency plans at the corners if Busch goes down or Shaw falters. If the Cubs choose to pass on the remaining big names like Alex Bregman and Jack Flaherty, there's no reason they shouldn't bolster the bench and really round out this roster.